Operating-button for electrical switching apparatus and process for making such button.



H. T. MARTIN.

OPERATING BUTTON FOR ELECTRICAL SWITCHING APPARATUS AND PROCESS FOR MAKING SUCH BUTTON APPLICATION FILED JULY 9.191].

1,262,368. Patented Apr. 9, I918.

/n yen/0r. Hora/d f/Var/M UNITED STATES PATENT onrion.

HAROLD T. MARTIN, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO WESTERN ELECTRIC COMPANY, INCORPORATED, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

OPERATING-BUTTON'FOR ELECTRICAL SWITCHING APPARATUS PROCESS FOR MAKING SUCH BUTTON.

Specificationof Letters Patent.

, Application filed July 9, 1917. Serial No. 179,425.

1' State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Operating- Buttons for Electrical Switching Apparatus and Processes for Making Such Buttons.

This invention relates to an operating button for electrical switching apparatus and to a process for making such button.

It has been heretofore proposed to distinguish several electrical switches from each other by marking in some manner the.

operating buttons of such switches, and as these operating buttonsare usually made of some composition material such as ebonite;

or bakelite, it has been the practice to cut a groove in the top of the button and to insert some plastic coloring matter in the groove for the purpose of distinguishing this button from the other buttons of a set. This method is open to the objection, however, that the physical characteristics of the coloring matter inserted are generally such that there is a tendency for it to chip out before the button itself is worn out. As there is considerable wear on buttons of this character, it is obvious that in order to be eflicient, the material inserted in the button for the purpose of distinguishing it from other buttons should possess the same physical characteristics as the button itself, be cause if the wear is unequal on the two materials the utility of the button is soon destroyed. For example, if a metal piece is inserted in a button, the surface of a button will wear off before the'metal, thus causing the metal to project and render the button useless for the purpose for which it is designed. It is an object of the present invention, therefore, to provide a button of this character, in which the indicating part and the body part of the button possess the same physical characteristics,.and as the button is desi ed to be made of a composition material, t e indicating portions should be made of similar material.

In accordance with a. feature of the invention a button 'is provided having a body portion of composite material and an indicating portion which is attached thereto by an inte al art of such indicating portion,

which 18 mo ded into thebody ofthe body portion in such a manner that the attaching portion is disposed at an oblique angle to the junction surfaces of the. two portions. The arrangement is such that the attaching portion engages the body portion in which it is embedded somewhat after the manner in which the ordinary clenching nail 611-.

gages-the material in which it is driven, thus formlng a very secure attachment, the difference being, however, that in the case of a nail it is possible to drive or force the nail into the material, whereas in the button of the present invention the attaching portion is embedded into the body portion, and is. not driven into it, as drivin or forcing these portions is precluded by t e physical characteristics of the materials used. In accordance with another feature of the invention the entire button isformed'with the indicating portion securely attached thereto by a single operation;

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1" shows a mold with one part of the button before assemblin inserted therein; Fig. 2 is" through the mold showing another form of a. button; and Fig. 7 is a perspective View of a modified form of the indicating portion of the button. I

The apparatus for carrying out the invention consists of a mold indicated at 1, which is preferably of metal and which is pro- ]Patented Apr. 9, I918.

vided with a cylindrical bore 2. At the bot-- tom of the bore- 2 is provided an annular slot 3. The mold 1 is adapted to be heated by a heating winding 4:,which surrounds it, and which is connected in circuit with a battery by means of a. suitable switch indicated at 6. C06 eratin with the mold is a plunger 7, which at its lower end is provided with a screw threaded projection 8.

In forming the button a ring made of celluloid or other pyroxylmimaterial shown at 9 is inserted in the niiold and is centered therein bymeans of the slot .3. A suitable quantity of plastic material such as b: kelite is then inserted in the mold upon the ring plunger 7 is forced down into the bore 2. The combined heat and pressure resulting from this operation cause the bakelite to solidify and the heat slightly softens the celluloid ring 9. It will be observed that the projection 8 of the spindle 7 when the plunger is in its lowermost position, extends within the-periphery of the ring 9 and consequently exerts an outward pressure on the upper edge of the ring, causing the upper edge of the ring 9 to be flared outwardly. After a suitable time the plunger carrying the button is removed "from the mold and the hardened button is unscrewed from the thread on the projection 8. It has been demonstrated in actual practice, by making sections of buttons formed in this manner, that after forming the ring assumes the shape indicated in Fig. 2, that is, the part of the ring which is deepest embedded in the button is flared outwardly. This flaring of the ring serves to very securely fixthe ring to the body of the button. After the button is formed the projecting portions of the ring 9 are machinedofi. It will be observed that as both the ring and the bodyof the button are formed of material having substantially the same physical characteristics, particularly with reference to the hardness and wearing qualities thereof, that a very durable button is provided, and one in which there is no possibility of the ring becoming detached with use.

In a modified form of the invention \a cap such as shown in Fig. 7 may be secured to the body portion of the. button.

This cap is preferably of celluloid and consists of a disk 10, which is provided with a plurality of projecting portions 11. This cap is laced in the lower end of the mold, covers as before. When the plunger 7 is forced into the mold, the projections 11 are bent. outwardly and securely attach the cap 10 to the body portionof the button.

While it is preferred to use, in forming the button, bakelite for the body portion thereof and celluloid for the indicating portion thereof, it is obvious that other materials possessing similar physical characteristios could be used.

What is claimed is:

1. As an article of manufacture, a composite button comprisinga body portion and with plastic bakelite and heated reeaeee a substantially cone-shaped ring of a different material, having substantially the same physical characteristics of said body portion embedded in said body portion.

2. As an article of manufacture, a composite button comprising a body member of relatively inelastic material and an indicating member hav \i ng substantially the same physical characteristics, and means for fixedly securing such members together, comprising an integral flared portion of such indicating member embedded in such body member.

3. As an article of manufacture, a composite button comprising a body portion and a substantially cone-shaped ring of material having substantially the same physical characteristics as said body portion embedded in said body portion with a smaller diameter thereof directed to the surface of said body portion.

4.. As an article of manufacture, a composite button comprising a body portion and an indicating portion, means for fixedly securing said portions together comprising a projection on one of said portions em bedded in the other portions and disposed at an oblique angle to the joined surfaces of said portions.

5. The process of manufacturing a composite button which consists in placing a ring of heat-softenable material at the bottom of a mold, super-posing thereon a mass of material having similar physical characteristics, subjecting such materials to heat,

simultaneously pressing-such material into the mold and expanding said ring.

6. The process of manufacturing a composite button which consists in inserting a ring of material in a mold, superposing a mass of similar material, applying heat to such materials, and applying pressure to the whole Within the periphery of the ring.

7. The process of forming a composite button which consists in placing in a mold a piece of heat-softenable material having upwardly projecting portions, superposing thereon a mass of similar material, subjecting such materials to heat, and applying pressure to said materials between the proecting portions.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 3rd day of July A. 1111917.

HARQLD T. MARTIN. 

